Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 122097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“I could maybe have one, if it was a worthwhile investment.”
“Define that.”
“You know. If she’s into me, I’d be into her.”
“Do you want me to pass this message along?”
He smiles. “If you don’t mind, I actually would.”
“These Disciple women scaring ya a little bit, Ryan? Because I don’t recall you ever needed a proper introduction to get yourself a woman.”
He huffs a little bit of air. “This place is…”
“Weird?”
“Kinda. But these people are…”
“Culty?”
He laughs. “I was gonna say old-fashioned? But maybe culty works too. I bought one of her funnel cakes.”
“OK.”
“And she was nice to me.”
“I’m following.”
“But, as you mentioned, it was a very polite nice to me.”
“Like maybe you’re cute, and worldly, and interesting, but that’s just not enough for her?”
He points at me. “That. This girl is running a funnel cake tent at a carnival—no offense.”
“None taken. This place is exactly like a carnival.”
“And I’m a former asshole rich kid who’s been all over the world doing shit I’m not even allowed to talk about, it’s so damn important and interesting, and she looked at me like I was trying to sell her insurance when I smiled and said, ‘Hello.’”
My chuckle comes out quick. “Sounds about right.”
“So what’s the deal? These Disciple women don’t date outside men? The place is not that big. How could you not all be related by now?”
“Don’t be a dick, Ryan.”
“Sorry. It’s just a fact.”
“Well, the truth is, they most certainly do date outside men. Almost everyone has a parent who wasn’t from here. At the very least, they’ve got a grandparent who wasn’t. So it’s not a rule or nothin’. But the profit share is something we guard. She’s not gonna waste her time on just any old fucker, Ryan. She’s not gonna mess up the good thing she’s got by birthright. And she’s not gonna share it with just anyone. So if you like this woman, you’d better brush up on your manners. Regardless of how Amon goes through life here in Disciple, you’re not Amon. He put a spell on this town and he did that back when he was five or six. They love him. They do not love you. So do not follow his lead.”
“So… it’s OK for me to ask her out? Or not?”
“Ask her out. But if you put your hand up her shirt on that first date, she’d better have her hand down your pants before you do that. I’m not saying the women here are prudes, but don’t disrespect her. You need to give her a reason to like you. And before you ask her out, you had better find out if she’s got a man already. And if she does, stay away from her.”
Ryan thinks about all this for a few moments. Then looks me in the eye and nods. “OK. Thanks for the tip.”
“It’s been a pleasure. Now, I’m gonna get the fuck out of here. Lowyn has planned me an Easter dinner.”
I catch Ryan grinning as I turn, but I don’t say anything else. Just walk out of the tent with my dog.
Lowyn is waiting for me at the east gate. She’s talking to a few guests, smiling at them as they ask her questions, or whatever. But then, when I get closer, I hear that they are talking about McBooms.
“We’re generally open during the week if you want to stop by,” Lowyn is saying. “But your best bet is to look on the website because everything I have for sale is online and can be shipped.” She notices me and excuses herself from the two older ladies. “Ready?”
I nod and offer her my arm, which Lowyn takes gladly and easily. Like this is something men still do. Because here in Disciple, it is.
We walk down the hill slowly, just looking out at the river and the thick forest on the other side of it. I’d forgotten how nice of a view it is when walking home from Revival. This is the same view from my front porch—Lowyn’s front porch now—so it’s all very familiar, but surprising at the same time.
Then we cut over to the right when we get to my street, which is a nice street for being in town. There are no businesses on the side I live on. And my backyard bumps up to a hillside covered in trees just like the one across the river. I spent a lot of time up in those hills when I was a kid. Grimm and me both, since we were pretty close when we were young.
Mercy stays right at my side like the well-trained security dog she is.
“It was really nice today, don’t you think?”
I look over at Lowyn and nod. “It was. But it was weird too. I mean, why the sudden change? It was a completely different vibe from yesterday.”